Shyla: My husband, Zachary, is the most amazing man I’ve ever known. After he served in the United States Marine Corps from 1995 to 2000 in Special Cryptographic Intelligence, he worked for his father as an apprentice electrician. Unfortunately, he fell 40 feet through the Salt Palace in Utah, landed on concrete, and was pronounced dead. He saw God, who told him he had a greater purpose, he wasn’t supposed to die, and was revived. Though he broke all the bones in his feet, his left hip and knee, his elbow and his forehead, caught a piece of tin and had to have reconstructive surgery and multiple other surgeries, he learned how to walk again.
Zachary became a loving husband and stepfather of two children in 2002, then had two biological children in 2003 and 2004.
In 2015, I got diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which spread to my lymph nodes. I had 24 lymph nodes removed on April 16, 2018, and without my husband, I don’t believe I would’ve made it. He took care of me every day for three years while I was sick in bed. At the beginning of June 2018, my husband told me he still didn’t understand what this greater purpose was that God told him he had. He said, “God told me that I was going to do something so inspiring that it would help change the world.”
Then on June 16, 2018, Zac had a brainstem stroke (Pons stroke) at only 40 years old. After being told he wouldn’t make it so many times, I knew in my heart that God wanted him to survive. I’d never even thought for a moment about giving up on him. After living in 5 different hospitals, rehab centers, and now an adult family home, this man shows what you can live through when you never give up and have your soulmate fighting for you every step of the way. Zac got his trach removed (after being told he’d never breathe without it), he’s survived 15 aspiration pneumonias, multiple MRSA staph infections and UTI’s, 10 intubations, bleeding ulcers, and even COVID.
My husband has even started saying some words like “love you”, “no”, and can answer me with thumbs up and shake his head “yes” or “no”. He’s finally starting to respond to the doctors, too!! Thank Jesus!! I asked him if this was the greater purpose God told him about and he immediately gave me a thumbs up with both hands. I also asked him if he knows he’s getting better and did the same thing with a big smile on his face.
He has inspired so many people from all over the world, and I know he’s supposed to keep inspiring more. So many people are praying for him every day, which is amazing, and I’m so incredibly grateful. God will have all the glory.
Thank you for listening to our story.